Reflections, Intentions, and Thank Yous




As late fall turns to winter, and the days get shorter and colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, I imagine many people find themselves reflecting on the past 12 months, just as I do. For most of the year, I am focused on each day, but in December, I tend to think about what the world has witnessed, what I have experienced in my own life, and about the goals I’d set for myself back in January.

Globally, this year has been intense and, at times, horrific. Genocide, an ongoing pandemic, economic instability, global warming, mass shootings, all of which appear to be set to continue indefinitely. Appalling as they all are, for me, they also serve as stark reminders that life is precious and short, and can end without warning. The weight of that realization can feel crushing, but it also motivates me to not take my time on this earth for granted, and to try to contribute, even in just a small way, a bit of kindness and happiness to others through my actions and my art.

Personally, this year has been comparatively steady, at least outwardly. Aside from a tech hellscape that started off the year, my husband and I were not faced with any major crises, which allowed me the space to focus on my art. Having more or less uninterrupted time was invaluable, and I know how fortunate I am to have had that opportunity.

Because of that wonderful gift of time, I was able to work steadily on my goals, with the main one being to open an online shop, which I did in February (I wrote a detailed post about that experience in this post). My final project for the year was to redesign my online portfolio, which I finished last month, and am very happy with the result. Most importantly, over the course of the year, I created many new art and illustration pieces, and continued the ongoing process of developing my style, and improving my skills.    

I want to close this post, and this year, with a heartfelt thank you to the people who have supported, and continue to support, my artistic endeavors. To my family, for the love and encouragement they have given me - thank you. My husband and my mom have been 100% behind me since the beginning of my artistic journey, and I know how lucky I am to have them cheering me on. I also want to acknowledge my appreciation and gratitude to those who have supported me through follows, comments, and reposts on social media, and to those who have purchased items from my online shop. Having the love and support of my family, and connecting with people who value and appreciate what I do, inspires me to keep going. THANK YOU. It means so much to me to be able to create art that people like and get value from.  

I don't know what the coming year will bring, but I have been working on my goals and intentions list, as well as sketching ideas for new designs and illustrations. In addition, I am  looking forward to continuing to build meaningful connections with people who enjoy my work. With that, I wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday, and I will see you in 2024. Happy New Year to you all.   



 


         


Popular posts from this blog

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: An Introduction + Minimalist Everyday Bread Recipe

Image
  This is the first post in a new series I’ve opted to call “A Capsule Kitchen”, which I will be incorporating into my blog every other month. Typically, I write about art and creativity, with the occasional off-topic piece peppered in for a bit of variety. This year, I came up with the idea of “A Capsule Kitchen”, and thought it would be a fun addition. Each post in the series will feature a tried-and-true recipe that is in regular rotation in my household. For the introduction of the series, I thought it might be helpful to provide some context and a brief background, before starting things off with a simple staple recipe. My husband and I eat a vegan diet, and I do the cooking and baking, which I enjoy, especially now that I have a curated collection of trusty go-tos we both like and that are easy to prepare. We are decidedly unfancy when it comes to our food preferences, both by choice and necessity, which will be clear from the recipes I will be sharing. I decided to call the ...
Read more

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Minimalist Cornbread

Image
This simple and humble cornbread is one of my husband's favorites, so I typically bake it once or twice a week. I have it streamlined to just 5 ingredients, which are inexpensive and always on hand. Years ago, we occasionally bought cornbread, and I feel like such a sucker now, as making it at home is so easy, which is why I wanted to share this recipe for fluffy, yummy, cheap and easy cornbread.  Minimalist Cornbread Supplies 8” round baking pan Measuring cup Measuring spoons Spatual Mixing bowl Cooling rack or cutting board Ingredients ( Dry ) 1 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat flour also works well, and gives it a bit of a rustic taste and  texture)  1 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon baking powder ( Wet ) ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 cup water (I've used almond milk, but found water works just fine, and is much more cost-effective) Optional ingredients   Pinch of salt A drizzle of agave or maple syrup, if you like a sweeter flavor Grated vegan cheese or a sprinkling of nutri...
Read more

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Vegan Chili Mac

Image
Vegan Chili Mac is one of our favorites, so we have it a few times a month. It is just my husband and myself in our household, so the amount I make is enough for several nights.  As is the case with most of recipes I use, this simple and cheap dinner is more of a template, rather than strict instructions to follow to the letter, which makes it pretty foolproof, and allows for additions or omissions depending on your preferences. Based on trial and error, we have settled on this combination of ingredients most of the time, with the occasional addition if we want try something different, or have something that needs to get used. Simple Vegan Chili Mac Ingredients 2 cups uncooked macaroni ½ cup dry red beans, or 1 15oz can, rinsed and drained. (I use dry beans because they are cost effective. A ½ cup dried will be about 2 cups cooked.) 1 15 oz can tomato sauce ¾-1  cup frozen corn (more/less, if desired) ¾-1  cup frozen kale (more/less if desired) 3 tablespoons chili powder ...
Read more